The 2018 American Music Awards got political Tuesday night (October 9), when actor-comedian Billy Eichner, on stage to present an award, delivered an urgent plea for Americans to register to vote in the upcoming November 6 midterm elections.

"The biggest election of our lifetime is happening," Eichner told the audience, interrupting his Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist presenter duties to make a political statement promoting human rights.

"Tonight is the final night to register in twenty states of this country. Please, grab your friends and tell them to vote," he continued. "Now is the time if you believe in equality for women, for people of color, for the LGBTQ+ community, if you believe that climate change is real and that we need to do something about it. Don't let anyone tell you your vote wont count—it does."

He also instructed folks to go to "Vote.org like Taylor Swift told you to"—referencing the pop star's much-talked-about recent political statement—in order to register immediately, while his co-presenter, actress Kathryn Hahn, nodded vigorously in agreement.

"Thank you Billy, for using your platform the way you use it," 2018 AMAs host Tracee Ellis Ross, who wore a shirt that read "I am a VOTER" earlier in the night, shared after Shawn Mendes accepted his award for Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist.